August 16, 2007 Portland Sea Dogs-Trenton Thunder game story for the Portland (Maine) Press-Herald
Dogs set up rubber game
August 16, 2007
TRENTON, N.J. — Portland Sea Dogs Manager Arnie Beyeler
doesn't differentiate between Justin Masterson and the rest of
his pitchers. His goal for them is the same.
"He's no different than any of the other guys we throw out there;
we hope to get a quality start," Beyeler said before Wednesday
night's 5-2 victory over the Trenton Thunder at Waterfront Park.
The Sea Dogs (63-56) ended a two-game losing streak and
moved within seven games of first-place Trenton in the Eastern
League Northern Division. Portland will try to win the rubber
game of the three-game series tonight with the 6-foot-6
Masterson on the mound.
Masterson has provided more than his share of "quality starts"
for the Sea Dogs. Since being called up from Class A Lancaster in
July, he is 4-1 with a 2.86 ERA in 44 innings.
In fact, Masterson has been so impressive, the Boston Red Sox
would not include him in a deal with the Chicago White Sox for
slugger Jermaine Dye at the trade deadline. Masterson admitted
that being in Boston's future plans is an ego boost.
"It puts an extra confidence factor there," he said. "It tells me
that they're doing something with me instead of 'have fun, have
fun' but 'hey, work on some stuff because we're looking to get
you up (to the major leagues),'..."
He said the Red Sox don't have him on a timetable to be in
Boston, but, "I worry about taking care of business (and) I'm
going to keep working hard until it does come."
Tommy Hottovy and Dusty Brown worked hard Wednesday to
help the Sea Dogs get a much-needed win.
The Thunder (71-50) opened the scoring with consecutive RBI
singles by Cody Ehlers and Matt Carson in the second inning off
Hottovy (3-8).
After that, Hottovy shut down the Thunder, allowing five hits in
six innings and lowering his ERA to 5.49.
The Sea Dogs broke through in the fourth inning on Brown's
three-run homer. He crushed a pitch from Chase Wright (4-2)
over the left-field wall for his ninth home run of the season, and
seventh on the road.
"(The homer was a) 2-1 change-up," Brown said. "I saw it pretty
(well) out of his hands, still got out a little in front and I got it off
the end of the bat. Sometimes you get hot in certain places."
In the seventh, Brown upped the Sea Dogs' lead to 5-2 with a
single off reliever Michael Gardner that scored Bryan Pritz.
Mike James gave up a walk and a double in the ninth before
shutting the door to earn his 20th save.
NOTES: Beyeler said Chad Spann was about a week
away from returning from the disabled list. ... Iggy Suarez
singled in the fourth and sixth innings to stretch his hitting
streak to 12 games, hitting .426 during that stretch. ... Home-
plate umpire Mark Buchanon's strike zone was a matter of
concern for both teams. Trenton Manager Tony Franklin and
second baseman Gabriel Lopez were ejected in top of second
inning for arguing that Buchanon was squeezing Wright on
breaking pitches that looked like strikes.
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=127783&ac=PHspt
Copyright © 2007 Blethen Maine Newspapers
Portland closes ground on first-place Trenton by ending a two-game skid.
August 16, 2007
TRENTON, N.J. — Portland Sea Dogs Manager Arnie Beyeler
doesn't differentiate between Justin Masterson and the rest of
his pitchers. His goal for them is the same.
"He's no different than any of the other guys we throw out there;
we hope to get a quality start," Beyeler said before Wednesday
night's 5-2 victory over the Trenton Thunder at Waterfront Park.
The Sea Dogs (63-56) ended a two-game losing streak and
moved within seven games of first-place Trenton in the Eastern
League Northern Division. Portland will try to win the rubber
game of the three-game series tonight with the 6-foot-6
Masterson on the mound.
Masterson has provided more than his share of "quality starts"
for the Sea Dogs. Since being called up from Class A Lancaster in
July, he is 4-1 with a 2.86 ERA in 44 innings.
In fact, Masterson has been so impressive, the Boston Red Sox
would not include him in a deal with the Chicago White Sox for
slugger Jermaine Dye at the trade deadline. Masterson admitted
that being in Boston's future plans is an ego boost.
"It puts an extra confidence factor there," he said. "It tells me
that they're doing something with me instead of 'have fun, have
fun' but 'hey, work on some stuff because we're looking to get
you up (to the major leagues),'..."
He said the Red Sox don't have him on a timetable to be in
Boston, but, "I worry about taking care of business (and) I'm
going to keep working hard until it does come."
Tommy Hottovy and Dusty Brown worked hard Wednesday to
help the Sea Dogs get a much-needed win.
The Thunder (71-50) opened the scoring with consecutive RBI
singles by Cody Ehlers and Matt Carson in the second inning off
Hottovy (3-8).
After that, Hottovy shut down the Thunder, allowing five hits in
six innings and lowering his ERA to 5.49.
The Sea Dogs broke through in the fourth inning on Brown's
three-run homer. He crushed a pitch from Chase Wright (4-2)
over the left-field wall for his ninth home run of the season, and
seventh on the road.
"(The homer was a) 2-1 change-up," Brown said. "I saw it pretty
(well) out of his hands, still got out a little in front and I got it off
the end of the bat. Sometimes you get hot in certain places."
In the seventh, Brown upped the Sea Dogs' lead to 5-2 with a
single off reliever Michael Gardner that scored Bryan Pritz.
Mike James gave up a walk and a double in the ninth before
shutting the door to earn his 20th save.
NOTES: Beyeler said Chad Spann was about a week
away from returning from the disabled list. ... Iggy Suarez
singled in the fourth and sixth innings to stretch his hitting
streak to 12 games, hitting .426 during that stretch. ... Home-
plate umpire Mark Buchanon's strike zone was a matter of
concern for both teams. Trenton Manager Tony Franklin and
second baseman Gabriel Lopez were ejected in top of second
inning for arguing that Buchanon was squeezing Wright on
breaking pitches that looked like strikes.
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=127783&ac=PHspt
Copyright © 2007 Blethen Maine Newspapers
posted by Denis P. Gorman at 2:20 AM
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